Tag Archive

Edmonton heritage

By: Zdenko Kahlina

Historic HostelryI heard people say: ‘If you see this hotel in your sights, run the other directions!’ I agree this place is a total dump. It stinks with spilled brews, totally unclean and serves too many risky patrons. I was terrified of this place, but it was declared a Historical Site and nothing could be done through the years to convince the Transit Management to make improvements.

Edmonton heritage

Source: The Edmonton Radial Railway Society’sEarly in 1903 the engineers of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway (C & ER), which had reached Strathcona in 1891, began surveys for a possible crossing of the North Saskatchewan River to reach Edmonton. In early May of 1903 the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) purchased the C & ER so any new railroad bridge would be built by CPR.

Edmonton heritage

By: Lawrence Herzog

From no bridges to five river crossingsIn the first dozen years of the 20th century, Edmonton went from no bridges to five river crossings. Those five bridges, opened between 1900 and 1913, were to serve the growing city without any additions for nearly the next 50 years.

Edmonton heritage

Source: C2E portal and Lawrence Herzog

Fond memories of Edmonton’s pastEdmonton has been my home base or home city for a several decades now. I moved here from Croatia with my family in 1989. So, I do remember some of the old things mentioned here. I remember when the Rat Hole was a dark and wet way to traverse 109 Street — it was unique and a hoot to drive though.

Edmonton heritage

Source: C2E Forum

As promised long time ago, here’s round 3 of Edmonton’s downtown core and area.Thanks to Sonic Death Monkey and Green Grovenor, I have been made aware of another source of historical information: Lawrence Herzog’s collection of ‘It’s Our Heritage’ columns which are available online.

Edmonton heritage

By: Zdenko KahlinaPictures and text: from C2E forum

The North Saskatchewan River snakes its way through the city with a long green belt of parkland running along both banks. This is North America’s largest stretch of city parkland, one long recreational area strewn with cycling paths and trails.

Traveling Alberta

By: Cigdem IltanPhotography by: Bruce Edwards

A ferryman never crosses same river twiceThe Shaftesbury ferry runs west of Peace River. It is one of the few remaining in this province and the only one powered by a tug boat. Shaftesbury Ferry tugboat operator Gert van Butselaar has crossed the Peace River up to 80 times a day for most of the last 16 years, but says he never gets tired of his workplace view.

Edmonton life

By: Zdenko Kahlina

Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation PowwowSeveral weeks ago my wife was invited to annual competition Powwow at Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation band and being a good husband I went along. The event took place on July 6, 7 and 8th at the Alexis reserve in Alberta. We also invited our quests Lidija and Nikolina (young girls from Croatia) to join us for this event as we were sure, they have never had a chance to see Powwow before.

Edmonton heritage

By Zdenko Kahlina

Fond memories of Edmonton’s pastEdmonton has been my home base or home city for a several decades now. I moved here from Croatia with my family in 1989. So, I do remember some of the old things mentioned here.

Edmonton heritage

Source: C2E Portal

Rail travel in EdmontonThe CN office tower in Edmonton presides over an abandoned rail yard that’s now being converted into yet another one of the many condo developments that are cropping up around the city in its most recent boom.

Edmonton history

Source: Edmonton archives

Mining in the Beverly AreaIn the early twentieth century Alberta was one of Canada’s main producers of coal. Several coal deposits run through the Edmonton area. The largest is the Clover Bar seam in northeast Edmonton, which is located underneath the Beverly area. This seam produced 95% of the coal produced in the Edmonton area.

Edmonton heritage

Source: Edmonton History

Coming up for Living on the EdgeHorse Hills is the land north of the Anthony Henday, west of Manning Drive and east of the North Saskatchewan River. This is the area where I ride my bicycle because I live close by at the North end of the city and there is no big volume of traffic.

Edmonton history

By: Trevor Robb, Edmonton Examiner

The Greater EdmontonThe early 1900′s marked a time of great optimism for the two bustling cities of Edmonton and Strathcona. Both were experiencing tremendous growth, but for two cities separated only by the North Saskatchewan river it was only a matter of time before the two became one.

Edmonton heritage

By: Zdenko Kahlina

Iconic structure arose again on original site.The other day on my way to Shaw Convention centre I passed by the newly built ‘Alberta Hotel’ on Jasper Avenue. What an incredible building. It’s been rebuild from pieces lying in storage since the historic structure was demolished 25 years ago.

Edmonton heritage

By: Emil Tiedemann

Edmonton’s Independent Cinema showcases alternative films seven days a week…I know what you’re thinking, that what could the Princess Theatre possibly bring to the table that’s any different from all those multi-plex movie theatres sprawled throughout the city?

Edmonton life

Text: Marcus FernandoPictures: Zdenko Kahlina

FRINGEOPOLIS… Fringe Theatre FestivalIt was a jolly holiday with the 34th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, SupercaliFRINGEilistic, in August 13-23, 2015!Take a historic neighborhood, add dozens of different venues, stir in performers from around the world, throw in a few hundred thousand audience members and let it grow over 11 days. The result: one Fringe Festival.

Edmonton heritage

Edmonton heritage

By: Zdenko Kahlina

Students love HUB Mall… and me too!I really like HUB Mall. I have always wished that I attended University here in Edmonton, just so I could live in the dorms upstairs and start my own pattern of pop cans in the windows.

Edmonton heritage

By: Lawrence Herzog

Edmonton’s Ultimate Hardware Store on Jasper AvenueIf you talk with anyone who lived in Edmonton in the 50 years starting in 1930, they’ll attest that W.W. Arcade was the ultimate hardware store. If I really think about it, I can still smell the place and hear the squeak of the floors underfoot and, if you were in the basement, overhead. I can see the shelves piled high with an array of goods and hundreds of other items dangling from the ceilings.

Edmonton heritage

By: Zdenko Kahlina

Great place to spend the day and walk through timeCompany in town? Looking for a great day of fun, learning and relaxation? Fort Edmonton is the place to go! I love Fort Edmonton. I truly do. It’s a fun, accessible place for people to learn about local history, and for families to spend time together.

Edmonton heritage

By: Zdenko Kahlina

Four amazing pyramids, endless opportunities for discovery.Muttart Conservatory pyramids are indeed a “jewel in the arctic”. With eight months of the year shrouded in wintry weather, Edmonton is the most populous northern city in Canada. Naturally, if you live here you would develop a craving for other earthly climes especially in the middle of winter.

Edmonton heritage

By: Zdenko Kahlina

Ride into history this summer!Do you know that Edmonton has its own street car? Last summer during the Fringe festival, because of the parking problem in Old Strathcona, my wife and I decided to ride the streetcar.